AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: President of Mexico
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0
PRO: Despite the controversy that surrounded his narrow victory in elections last year, Calderon's approval ratings hover in the 50% to 60% range. His policies will also play into the heated debate over illegal immigration in the U.S.
CON: Calderon, a champion of free market economics in a continent drifting leftward, is being challenged by rising inflation, especially in tortilla prices. He has promised to deal with organized crime, but hasn't had much success lately: the drug wars have claimed some 500 lives already this year.